University of Cincinnati
10/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/27/2026 15:46
The Office of Research announces new initiative: Human Futures
The Office of Research announces new initiative: Human Futures
3 minute read October 27, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print Story Like
The Office of Research is pleased to announce the Human Futures Initiative, a new strategic research initiative from the Office of Research launched with the support of the Office of the President.
The world is changing at a pace that challenges our ability to make sense of it. New technologies, economic shifts and social fragmentation raise urgent questions. What is being gained or lost? Who bears the costs of change, and who shapes its direction? These are the questions that the arts, humanities, and social sciences are uniquely equipped to address.
The Human Futures Initiative supports research, creative work and other scholarly activity that help communities understand change, strengthen public life and navigate the future together. The initiative complements UC's investments in technology by focusing on the cultural, civic, and social side of a rapidly changing world. It has three aims:
- Interpretation: Advance research and creative work that deepens our understanding of human experience, culture, and social change, past and present.
- Application: Connect scholarship to the civic, cultural and institutional settings where it can shape real-world decisions.
- Collaboration: Build lasting partnerships across disciplines, colleges and community organizations.
What's ahead
Over the next several years, Human Futures will offer support for faculty, staff and students across the university, including:
- Focused internal funding for research and creative work within the scope of Human Futures, from early-stage ideas to projects ready to compete for major national awards
- Opportunities for cross-campus collaboration, including interdisciplinary working groups and research teams
- Help finding and preparing proposals for national funders in the arts, humanities and social sciences
- Expanded engagement with national organizations and networks
- Opportunities for graduate students to take part in Human Futures research teams
The Office of Research will announce specific opportunities, timelines and ways to get involved in the coming months.
Leadership
Human Futures will be led out of the Office of Research by Farrah Jacquez, Assistant Vice President of Research, and guided by a cross-college Steering Council:
Farrah Jacquez
Assistant Vice President for Research, Office of Research
Joseph Heathcott
Associate Dean for Research, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Jonathan Kregor
Unit Head of Composition, Musicology, and Theory, College-Conservatory of Music
Kathie Maynard
Associate Dean of Innovations, College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology
Brant Russell
A.B., Dolly, Ralph, and Julia Cohen Chair of Dramatic Performance, College-Conservatory of Music
Stephanie Sadre-Orafai
Director, Taft Research Center
Jordan Tate
Professor of Art, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Jay Twomey
Divisional Dean of Humanities, College of Arts & Sciences
Rina Williams
Divisional Dean of Social Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
The next groundbreaking discovery
UC is a powerhouse of discovery and impact as a Carnegie 1 research institution. From pioneering medical research to transformative engineering and social innovation, our faculty and students drive progress that reaches across the world.
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